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Holy Wells of Cork & Kerry

not all who wander are lost

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ringfort

Exploring around the M8

8th May 2017 7 Comments

A very fruitful three days in East and Mid Cork enjoying a spot of well hunting. A fine variety was discovered, this little crop lurking on either side of the M8. St Cuain’s Well, Tobairin Cuain, Knockraha This well sounded intriguing: I liked both names – Knockraha (hill of the forts) and the unusual and […]

Filed Under: East Cork Tagged With: ballaun stone Ballybrack Black & Tans Blessed Virgin Mary Cameron Regiment; cillin Cork No 1 Brigade Doonpeter General Glanmire Knockraha Mass path' Mass Rock Midsummer pilgrim crosses quartz ringfort Schools' Folklore Project shrine Sing Sing Prison St Cuain St John St Patrick War of Independence Winter Solstice

An Arboreal Theme

9th December 2016 Leave a Comment

Fuelled with coffee at Budds in Ballydehob we headed off on the R586 towards Bandon, five wells in the GPS. Holy Well, Killowen First stop, a sharp left after Murragh and up an unexpected glen, full of dense foliage and the sound of dripping water. We parked in a layby and Ger just happened to […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: alder tree ballaun stone Blessed Virgin Mary carvings Christigram Eyes General Ginni Swanton Irish Tourist Association Survey 1944 King of Sunday Knockavilla Mass Rock Murragh Newcestown ringfort rounds Schools' Folklore Project Warts yew tree

Some thoughts on Bullauns

25th November 2016 9 Comments

Travelling around looking for holy wells, as you do, it is remarkable how often a bullaun is encountered – either situated near a well or sometimes described as the well itself.  A bullaun is, at its most simple, a man-made hollow carved in a rock. They crop up all over the place and there are […]

Filed Under: Other West Cork Tagged With: cupmarks font ironworking; Jack Roberts Mass Rock Penal Times pillar stone ringfort stoup

Roving around Kilmichael

18th November 2016 4 Comments

Today’s explorations were all within distance of the R584 meandering from Kealkil towards Macroom. The countryside was looking spectacular – all russets and ochres. First stop Togher. Couragh Well, Cabhrach,Togher Driving up to the farm to ask directions, the sight of the fortified house looming in the adjacent field is an impressive one. This incredibly […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: Ambush site Blessed Virgin Mary Carrigadrohid Dam Cooldorrihy Grotto fortified house; Gearagh Kilmichael Macroom Moneycusker offerings ringfort rounds Schools' Folklore Project St Bericheart Togher Tom Barry War of Independence

In Search of Cats around Toe Head

7th November 2016 Leave a Comment

The day being fine we set out for Toe Head, a small peninsula somewhere below Skibbereen roughly towards Castletownsend. There were three wells on the agenda and I was not very hopeful about finding any of them. Once off the main Castletownsend road the roads become quite challenging but highly scenic: tiny bumpy roads with […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: ballaun stone Bronze Age cup marks Eyes General Jack Roberts Mass Rock quartz ringfort rock art Schools' Folklore Project St Bartholomew

In the footsteps of St Fachtna

13th August 2016 6 Comments

Today, 13th August, is the Feast Day of St Fachtna. At least I think it is! It was originally the 14th of August but sometime in the 1960s, the General Roman Calendar, which seems to decided these things, offered the day to St Maximilian Kolbe instead, and St Fachtna was given the 13th. Anyway, it […]

Filed Under: West Cork Tagged With: Brendan the Navigator BVM Convent of Mercy Corca Laighde English Island fish Garland Sunday General Harry Clarke hawthorn bush Jack Roberts Lios Faughnan pilgrims ringfort Rosscarbery rounds sea pebbles St Barrahane's church St Bridget St Cummin St Fachtna St Finbarr Teampuillin Fachtna trout

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